Pharmacy packaging system and pouch

Abstract

A pouch for packaging a plurality of medications. The pouch includes a plurality of discrete compartments, each compartment including a sub-batch of medications. The pouch also includes serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches. The pouch further includes a continuous identifier that spans a subset of the plurality of discrete compartments to provide an appearance of one continuous pouch.

1 . A pouch for packaging a plurality of medications, the pouch comprising:
 a plurality of discrete compartments, each compartment including a sub-batch of medications;   serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches; and   a continuous identifier that spans a subset of the plurality of discrete compartments to provide an appearance of one continuous pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete compartments are separated by heat seals without serrations. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous identifier includes a border within the opposite ends of the pouch. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous identifier includes printed indicia. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein the printed indicia is printed on a label adhesively coupled to the pouch. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete compartments each has a pouch length between 1 inch and 3¼ inches. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 1 , comprising serrations between the discrete compartments. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete compartments correspond to a single administration time. 
     
     
         9 . A pouch for packaging a plurality of medications, the pouch comprising:
 a plurality of discrete compartments, each compartment including a sub-batch of medications, a first compartment of the plurality of discrete compartment having a first length adjacent a second compartment of the plurality of discrete compartments adjacent the first compartment having a second length different from the first length;   serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches; and   a continuous identifier that spans a subset of the plurality of discrete compartments to provide an appearance of one continuous pouch.   
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of discrete compartments is separated by heat seals without serrations 
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the continuous identifier includes a border within the opposite ends of the pouch. 
     
     
         12 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the continuous identifier includes printed indicia. 
     
     
         13 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the printed indicia is printed on a label adhesively coupled to the pouch. 
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the compartment length is between 1 inch and 3¼ inches. 
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 9 , comprising serrations between the discrete compartments. 
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of discrete compartments correspond to a single administration time. 
     
     
         17 . A pouch for packaging a plurality of medications, the pouch comprising:
 a plurality of discrete compartments, each compartment including a sub-batch of medications, wherein the plurality of discrete compartments correspond to a single administration time;   serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches; and   a continuous identifier that spans a subset of the plurality of discrete compartments to provide an appearance of one continuous pouch.   
     
     
         18 . The pouch of  claim 17 , wherein the continuous identifier includes printed indicia. 
     
     
         19 . The pouch of  claim 18 , wherein the printed indicia is printed on a label adhesively coupled to the pouch. 
     
     
         20 . The pouch of  claim 19 , wherein indicia include a first indicia regarding the first medication printed on the portion of the label directly over the first compartment and a second indicia regarding the second medication printed on the portion of the label directly over the second compartment.